Safety pipe rack



Feb. 23, 1943. c. L. DECKARD SAFETY PIPE RACK Filed March 2, A1942 0 F6A 0 may 0 0 0 M o o m 1 i 4 m Z 0R 1 O M L F a 4 W 1/) C 1 6 2 1 y 1 7Wt 3 1 i u QGXOVQQQ 6 Q OOODO0Om /.9 1 W\ v 5 8 1 7 ATTORNEYv PatentedFeb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,311,933 SAFETY PIPE RACKCharles L. Deckard, Tulsa, Okla.

Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 433,044

Claims.

The invention relates to safety pipe racks for oil well derricks, andhas for its object .to provide a device of this kind comprising a fingerframe having a brace cooperating with a portion of the derrick structurefor bracing the rack as a whole against the weight of tubing therein.

A further object is to form the frame from two sections having recessesin the upper side of each section and into which the rack fingers swingand are side braced when in horizontal operative position.

A further object is to provide the upper side of the frame withapertured lugs forming the notches or adjacent the notches for thereception of a locking bar for overlying the upper sides of the fingersand holding said fingers in operative position for the reception of pipesections, and also preventing accidental upward hinging of the fingers.

A further object is to provide the outer ends of the fingers withupwardly extending apertured lugs for the reception of a safety bar forholding the pipe sections between the fingers after they have beenproperly positioned.

The lugs also form means for preventing the foot of the operator fromslipping off the ends of the fingers during a pipe racking operation.

A further object is to form the fingers rectangular shaped in crosssection and to provide the upper sides thereof with non-skid treads.

A further object is to form the frame from spaced channels connectedtogether, and to provide the inner ends of the fingers with downwardlyextending lugs hingedly mounted on a hinge pin to the outer side of theouter channel. Also to provide a bumper bar to the outer side of theframe and adapted to limit the outward hinging movement of the fingerswhen raised to inoperative positions.

A further object is to provide the upper sides of the frame channelswith notched flanges in the notches of which the fingers are receivedwhen the fingers are hinged downwardly for pipe racking purposes.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pipe rack showing the same attachedto a tubing board and to the derrick.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the pipe rack.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the pipe rack.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a tubing board towhich one end of the rack frame 2 is attached and clamped at 3 in one ofa plurality of apertures 4. The other end of the frame is attached toone of the derrick girders 5 by means of a girder clamp 6, preferably aU-bolt extending between the spaced channel members 1 forming the frame.Clamped to the under side of the frame 2 by means of a bolt 8 is anapertured brace 9 which may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly inrelation to the girder I0 for bracing the frame against the weight ofthe inclined pipe sections. The brace 9 is provided with an upturned armI I, through which is threaded an adjusting screw I2 which engages thebrace I0, clearly shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted that the channel members 1 are in spaced relation;however, they are connected together by webs l3 at spaced points to forma rigid structure. Extending upwardly from the outer sides of the uppersides of the channels 1 are flanges l4 having alined notches l5 therein,and extending rearwardly from one of the channels 1 are spaced arms I6,connected together by a bumper bar l1. Extending through apertures ofthe arms I6 is a hinge pin [8, on which are pivotally mounted, betweenspacer sleeves IS, the downwardly extending arms 20 forming the hinge ofthe rack fingers 2|. The rack fingers are received within the notches [5when they are moved to lowered or horizontal positions as shown inFigures 2 and 3.

When the fingers 2| are raised to inoperative positions as shown indotted lines in Figure 2, they will pass beyond the center of gravityand will be limited in their movement by the bumper bar, and incident totheir position will remain in a vertical position until hingeddownwardly for use.

After the fingers 2| have been moved to horizontal positions for a piperacking operation a locking bar 22 is passed through the apertures ofapertured lugs 23 in a position above the fingers, hence it will be seenthere is no danger of upward hinging of the fingers during a pipehandling operation. The pipe sections are stacked with their upper endsbetween the fingers 2| and after which the safety bar 24 is passedthrough the apertures 25 of the upwardly extending toe guard lugs 26carried by the outer ends of the fingers, therefore it will be seen thatthe pipe sections will be positively held between the finger after theracking operation. It will also .be seen that when the operator iswalking over the fingers during the pipe racking and handling operation,should his foot slip it will engage the toe guard lugs and preventfalling. By forming the fingers square in cross section a relativelywide upper surface is provided for the operators foot andto furtherinsure against slipping said upper surface 21 may be provided with anon-skid surface 28, which may be formed in any manner desired.

From the above it will be seen that a pipe rack is provided forderricks, which is simple in construction, thoroughly braced relative tothe derrick structure and one having a frame formed from channelsthereby increasing its strength, and at the same time providing meansfor supporting spaced notched channels, the walls of which engageopposite sides of the fingers and brace the same against side strainthereon.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis: g

1. A pipe rack adapted to be disposed within a derrick structure, saidrack comprising a frame, anchoring means between the ends of the frameand the derrick structure, an inwardly and outwardly adjustable safetybrace carried by said frame and cooperating with a portion of thederrick for bracing the frame against the weight of pipe in the rack,said brace comprising a bar connected to the frame and extending acrossthe frame angularly and engaging a portion of the derrick structure.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the brace includes anadjusting bolt carried by said brace and cooperating with a portion ofthe derrick structure.

3. A derrick pipe rack comprising a frame, means for anchoring saidframe within a derrick, a finger hinge pin carried by the frame to therear thereof, a plurality of fingers hingedly mounted on said pin, theupper side of said frame having notches for the reception of the fingerswhen in horizontal position, means for positively holding said fingersin said notches i er, upwardly extending notched flanges carried by theupper sides of said channels, a plurality of fingers pivotally connectedto one of said channels and adapted to be received within the notches ofthe flanges when movedto horizontal positions, and means for holdingsaid fingers in said notches. v v I 5. A derrick pipe rack comprising aframe,- means for anchoring said frame within a derrick, a finger hingepin carried by the frame to the rear thereof, a plurality of fingershingedly mounted on said pin, the upper side of said frame havingnotches for the reception of the fingers when in a horizontal position,means for positively holding said fingers in said notches and a bumperbar carried by the frame and positioned to be engaged by the hinged endsof the fingers, for limiting the upward movement of the fingers andmaintaining the same substantially vertical when moved to inoperativeposition.

CHARLES L. DE'CKARD.

